"An ambush?"
"Shadow, are you sure this isn't a joke?"
Koshino's sudden outcry naturally caught the attention of all the members of the Sharp Blade Squad.
But if anyone in the squad had the strongest sensory abilities, it was undoubtedly Fierce who was proficient in Earth Release techniques!
According to Koshino's knowledge, Fierce used a secret technique passed down by the Third Hokage, known as the Earth Release Sensory Technique. As long as Fierce's feet were on the ground, he could detect anyone within a one-kilometer radius who was also in contact with the earth. With this technique, Fierce could not only sense the presence of others but also roughly gauge their power level.
So when Koshino suddenly shouted, Fierce was naturally the first to be skeptical!
After all, there wasn't a single living being, not even an animal, within a kilometer of them that Fierce could sense.
However, Koshino's earlier warning to Shisui had proven valuable, so even if Koshino was mistaken this time, Shisui and Fierce weren't going to dismiss his concerns outright.
As they continued towards the cave where they were supposed to rendezvous, Shisui frowned slightly and issued orders to Koshino and Fierce:
"Shadow's sensory abilities were taught to his by the Fourth Hokage, so even if Fierce didn't sense anything, we should still heed his warning."
"Lightning, you'll accompany me to the rendezvous point and see why no one has come to meet us."
"As for you, Shadow, stay his e with Fierce. If anything happens to us, you two will be our backup."
"Yes, Captain!"
Hearing Shisui's orders, Koshino felt a slight sense of relief but couldn't help frowning as he thought:
"Could my sensing really be wrong?"
"It can't be!"
"I clearly sensed an unusual presence, but it seemed to vanish in less than a millisecond!"
"Am I just being overly sensitive? Or is there really a Mist ninja plot ahead?"
"Well, I'll wait until Shisui and Kakashi investigate. After all, Fierce's sensory abilities are stronger than mine, so it's best to follow Shisui's plan for now."
With these thoughts, Koshino's eyes grew serious, gripping his kunai tightly in his hand.
Following Shisui's orders, he and Kakashi headed towards the cave to check on the situation. Meanwhile, Fierce, watching as Shisui and Kakashi's figures gradually disappeared into the darkness of the cave, cautiously asked Koshino:
"Shadow, what exactly did you sense earlier? Why did you say there was an ambush?"
"Earlier?"
Recalling the strange sensation, Koshino took a deep breath and replied:
"It was the wind—I felt an unusual wind!"
"That wind felt very cold, unlike any ordinary breeze. It was a wind filled with killing intent."
"But that cold wind only appeared for a very brief moment, so even I'm not sure if it was real."
"All I know is…"
As Koshino spoke, he suddenly fell silent!
At that moment, as Koshino used the Fourth Hokage's secret wind sensory technique, he noticed that all the wind around them had completely stopped!
"Fierce, be careful!"
Swish!
The sudden cessation of wind could only mean one thing:
There really was a Mist ninja ambush surrounding them!
But who could have guessed that while Koshino's wind sensing was sharp, the Mist ninja hiding nearby were equally formidable!
Just as Koshino was about to warn Fierce, a dark figure suddenly appeared before him, wielding a weapon that looked like a giant blade, smashing it down directly onto Fierce!
Since Fierce had placed complete trust in the Third Hokage's sensory technique, he had let his guard down when it didn't detect any enemies. The attacker's speed and silence were beyond anything Koshino or Fierce had anticipated, and Fierce was struck down to the ground with a single blow!
After the dark figure vanished, Fierce, lying on the ground, uttered words that sent a chill down Koshino's spine:
"Shadow, hurry and join up with Shunshin and Lightning—don't worry about me!"
"My chakra... all of it is gone!"
"What?"
Hearing Fierce's words, especially the critical point about his chakra being completely drained, two keywords immediately flashed in Koshino's mind!
The first keyword was a giant blade capable of absorbing chakra, known as Samehada!
The second was a name that every ninja in the world feared—the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, a terrifying group of elite warriors!
"It must be the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist!"
"So all the Mist ninjas we killed before were just bait!"
"The Mist's real target was always the Sharp Blade Squad. They used countless lives to lower our guard, and now we're about to become prey for the Seven Ninja Swordsmen!"
"No! Just like Fierce said, I need to reach Shisui and Kakashi quickly!"
"Each member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen is at least strong enough to fight a Kage-level opponent during the Third Shinobi War!"
In an environment filled with extreme tension and danger, people typically react in one of two ways:
The first is to lose their composure and ability to think clearly, further exposing their vulnerabilities.
The second is to remain calm under pressure, effectively handling the crisis at hand—people with a "big heart."
Koshino was undoubtedly the latter!
The more intense the situation, the more dangerous the environment, the better he performed—truly someone born for great things!
Realizing that the enemy he faced could be one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, who could single-handedly take on the entire Sharp Blade Squad, Koshino quickly hoisted the chakra-depleted Fierce onto his back. he unleashed his chakra in a burst, using the Wind Body Flicker Technique to swiftly "flash" into the cave ahead, just one step away from reuniting with Shisui and Kakashi.
But as the saying goes, when it rains, it pours. Koshino's situation illustrated this perfectly!
Just as Koshino caught sight of Shisui and Kakashi's figures in the dark cave, a thick, impenetrable mist suddenly filled the cave!
And within that thick mist, a rising red hue sent Koshino's heart sinking to the depths!
"Ninja Art: Bloody Mist Technique!"
"The Sharp Blade Squad, is it?"
"This is Zabuza Momochi—I've been waiting for you!"